Date of dispatch of this notice: 01/02/2021
External Reference: 2021-206708
TED Reference: 2021/S 025-062706
Contract award notice - utilities
Information
Published
Contract award notice - utilities
Contract award notice – utilities
Results of the procurement procedure
Services
Directive 2014/25/EU
Section I: Contracting entity
I.1)
Name and addresses
National Transport Authority
N/A
Dun Sceine, Iveagh Court, Harcourt Lane
Dublin 2
D02 WT20
IE
Contact person:
Mark Bradwell
Telephone:
+353 01-8798362
E-mail:
procurement@nationaltransport.ie
Fax:
+353 01-8798333
Internet address(es):
Main address:
https://www.nationaltransport.ie/
Address of the buyer profile:
https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/1149
I.6)
Main activity
Urban railway, tramway, trolleybus or bus services
Section II: Object
II.1)
Scope of the procurement
II.1.1)
Title
Award of Public Bus Services Contracts to Aircoach
II.1.2)
Main CPV code
60100000
-
Road transport services
II.1.3)
Type of contract
Services
II.1.4)
Short description
Aircoach has been awarded a contract to operate public passenger transport services, under a public service obligation (PSO), in respect of the routes listed below:
704X
The contract is intended to be a short term arrangement, to ensure continued provision of public passenger transport services insofar as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial duration is for a period of 6 months, with options to extend for a maximum of two further 3 month periods insofar as necessary having regard to the evolving circumstances. The compensation mechanism for the contract is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007.
704X
The contract is intended to be a short term arrangement, to ensure continued provision of public passenger transport services insofar as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial duration is for a period of 6 months, with options to extend for a maximum of two further 3 month periods insofar as necessary having regard to the evolving circumstances. The compensation mechanism for the contract is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007.
II.1.6)
Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
no
II.1.7)
Total value of the procurement ( Agree to publish? yes )
Value excluding VAT:
2302621.00
EUR
II.2)
Description
II.2.2)
Additional CPV code(s)
60112000
-
Public road transport services
63710000
-
Support services for land transport
63712000
-
Support services for road transport
63712100
-
Bus station services
II.2.3)
Place of performance
Main site or place of performance:
Ireland
II.2.4)
Description of the procurement
Aircoach has been awarded a contract to operate public passenger transport services, under a public service obligation (PSO), in respect of the routes listed below:
704X
The contract is intended to be a short term arrangement, to ensure continued provision of public passenger transport services insofar as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial duration is for a period of 6 months, with options to extend for a maximum of two further 3 month periods insofar as necessary having regard to the evolving circumstances. The compensation mechanism for the contract is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007.
704X
The contract is intended to be a short term arrangement, to ensure continued provision of public passenger transport services insofar as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial duration is for a period of 6 months, with options to extend for a maximum of two further 3 month periods insofar as necessary having regard to the evolving circumstances. The compensation mechanism for the contract is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007.
II.2.11)
Information about options
Options:
yes
Description of options:
At the discretion of the Authority, the contracts may be renewed twice for period(s) up to a maximum of 3 months each.
II.2.13)
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
no
II.2.14)
Additional information
The amounts stated in Sections II.1.7) Total value of the procurement and V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot, represents the initial 6 month contract value (excluding any potential extensions) and includes fare revenues receipted on the services over the initial 6 contract period.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1)
Description
IV.1.1)
Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below
- Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive
Explanation
The Routes were previously performed by Aircoach under licence. Having regard to the impact of Covid-19, the Authority concluded that it was necessary to secure the continued provision of these routes under a public service obligation.
In awarding the contract directly, the Authority has acted insofar as is strictly necessary and having regard to the extreme urgency brought about by Covid-19, to ensure the provision of important public passenger transport services. The Routes have been significantly affected by the impact of Covid-19. Changes in the demand for public transport and the evolving public health guidelines in respect of capacity on public transport vehicles have significantly reduced the commercial viability of the Routes. In advance of the signing of the contract, the Operator had suspended operation of the licensed Routes. The Authority is satisfied that continued operation without intervention in the form of a contract is unsustainable in the short term. In the absence of this contract, there is a significant and immediate risk that the areas served by the Routes would be left without adequate public transport.
The impact of Covid-19, including the reduced demand for public transport and the restrictions on ridership to maintain social distancing, were unforeseeable by the Authority.
The Authority is satisfied that the time limits specified for open procedures, restricted procedures and negotiated procedures with prior call for competition (including the accelerated procedures provided for in the legislation) could not have been complied with. The Authority estimates that a procurement procedure in respect of the Routes would take at least 20 weeks (representing an accelerated timeframe beyond what the Authority would normally estimate). This estimate is based on the complexity of the subject matter, the time for preparation of tender documents, the timeframe for the evaluation of responses, the requirement to observe a standstill period, the Authority’s resourcing, and the fact that a significant number of parallel competitions would have to be run simultaneously. The Authority received confirmation of funding for the proposed contract on 26 June 2020, and a 20 week period starting on that date would not achieve the objective of ensuring continued service provision on the Routes. The Authority is satisfied that a delay of 20 weeks from the date on which funding was confirmed would have led to a further reduction of services on the Routes.
In awarding the contract directly, the Authority has acted insofar as is strictly necessary and having regard to the extreme urgency brought about by Covid-19, to ensure the provision of important public passenger transport services. The Routes have been significantly affected by the impact of Covid-19. Changes in the demand for public transport and the evolving public health guidelines in respect of capacity on public transport vehicles have significantly reduced the commercial viability of the Routes. In advance of the signing of the contract, the Operator had suspended operation of the licensed Routes. The Authority is satisfied that continued operation without intervention in the form of a contract is unsustainable in the short term. In the absence of this contract, there is a significant and immediate risk that the areas served by the Routes would be left without adequate public transport.
The impact of Covid-19, including the reduced demand for public transport and the restrictions on ridership to maintain social distancing, were unforeseeable by the Authority.
The Authority is satisfied that the time limits specified for open procedures, restricted procedures and negotiated procedures with prior call for competition (including the accelerated procedures provided for in the legislation) could not have been complied with. The Authority estimates that a procurement procedure in respect of the Routes would take at least 20 weeks (representing an accelerated timeframe beyond what the Authority would normally estimate). This estimate is based on the complexity of the subject matter, the time for preparation of tender documents, the timeframe for the evaluation of responses, the requirement to observe a standstill period, the Authority’s resourcing, and the fact that a significant number of parallel competitions would have to be run simultaneously. The Authority received confirmation of funding for the proposed contract on 26 June 2020, and a 20 week period starting on that date would not achieve the objective of ensuring continued service provision on the Routes. The Authority is satisfied that a delay of 20 weeks from the date on which funding was confirmed would have led to a further reduction of services on the Routes.
IV.1.8)
Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement
: yes
IV.2)
Administrative information
Section V: Award of contract
Title: Award of Public Bus Services Contract to Aircoach
V.2)
Award of contract
V.2.1)
Date of conclusion of the contract
21/10/2020
V.2.3)
Name and address of the contractor ( Agree to publish? yes )
Aircoach
Airport Business Park Dublin Airport
Co. Dublin
IE
The contractor is an SME : no
V.2.4)
Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT) ( Agree to publish? yes )
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
2302621.00
EUR
Total value of the contract/lot:
2302621.00
EUR
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3)
Additional information
Aircoach has been awarded a contract to operate public passenger transport services, under a public service obligation (PSO), in respect of the routes listed below:
704X
The contract is intended to be a short term arrangement, to ensure continued provision of public passenger transport services insofar as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial duration is for a period of 6 months, with options to extend for a maximum of two further 3 month periods insofar as necessary having regard to the evolving circumstances. The compensation mechanism for the contract is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007.
704X
The contract is intended to be a short term arrangement, to ensure continued provision of public passenger transport services insofar as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial duration is for a period of 6 months, with options to extend for a maximum of two further 3 month periods insofar as necessary having regard to the evolving circumstances. The compensation mechanism for the contract is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007.
VI.4)
Procedures for review
VI.4.1)
Review body
High Court of Ireland
Four Courts, Ground Floor (East Wing), Inns Quay
Dublin 7
D7
IE
E-mail:
highcourtcentraloffice@courts.ie
Internet address:
http://www.courts.ie
VI.4.3)
Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
As set out in S.I. No. 131/2010 European Communities (Award of Contracts by Utilities Undertakings) (Review Procedures) Regulations 2010 (in particular Regulation 7 thereof).